Trello, the board-first choice for teams that live in cards

Trello stands out among simple project tracking software for remote teams thanks to its intuitive Kanban foundation. With columns, cards, and checklists, teams can easily create a shared workflow language, even across continents where colleagues may never meet in person.

Trello strengths:

  • Visual clarity: boards and swimlanes make project status obvious at a glance.

  • Frictionless onboarding: most users become productive within an hour.

  • Butler automations: lightweight rules simplify recurring tasks and task handoffs.

  • Flexible power-ups: add calendars, timelines, or GitHub integration without needing to overhaul your approach.

Why it’s in the top: For many remote teams, Trello provides the perfect balance of clarity and control. For example, a content team can move drafts from “Pitch” to “In Review” to “Published,” with automated reviewer assignments and due dates at each step. This structure yields just the right level of transparency and oversight for distributed teams.

Asana, task clarity with just enough structure for cross‑functional work

Asana is often the starting point when growing companies choose a project tracker. It offers intuitive list and board views expected from simple project tracking software for remote teams, while also introducing projects, sections, and custom fields that keep cross-functional work organized.

Asana strengths:

  • Multiple views per project: switch effortlessly between list, board, timeline, and workload views, all powered by the same data.

  • Rules that mirror your process: automatically assign owners, set priorities, and move work through various stages.

  • Clear ownership: subtasks and task followers minimize confusion over responsibilities.

  • Project templates: speed up recurring initiatives such as product launches, marketing campaigns, and sprints.

Why it’s in the top: Asana effectively manages complex, cross-team dependencies without overburdening the team with administration. A remote project manager can build a two-week sprint plan, generate a timeline for executives, and let engineers work on a simple board, all referencing the same core information.

Routine, centralize projects, knowledge, and relationships in one place

Routine is built for business teams wanting a single workspace to manage projects, knowledge, customer relations, and meetings. Its unified approach places it among the best simple project tracking software for remote teams by reducing context switching and highlighting connections between work, documents, and customer details. If you're debating between connected workspaces and dedicated tools, you may want to read this comparison of all‑in‑one versus specialized tools.

best-project-tracking-software

Routine strengths:

  • Unified data model: tasks, documents, and CRM entries are interconnected, reducing reliance on sending links in chats.

  • Structured simplicity: projects use clear stages and owners, while documents and CRM data stay within quick reach.

  • Smart connections: link product backlog items directly to customer accounts and design specs.

  • Built for teams: straightforward permissions for internal squads and external clients alike.

Why it’s in the top: Remote teams often juggle projects in one tool, customer details in another, and documentation somewhere else, Routine shortens that triangle. For example, a B2B onboarding project can tie tasks to a specific account, display project status next to the latest requirements doc, and keep sales, success, and product teams aligned without chasing URLs.

Monday.com, modular boards that scale with lightweight governance

Monday.com merges spreadsheets, boards, and automations in formats familiar to many operations teams. For remote groups with frequent handoffs, it remains a solid choice among the best simple project tracking software for remote teams.

Monday.com strengths:

  • Column-based structure: status, owner, ETA, and effort are visible at all times.

  • Automations and integrations: automate item movements by triggers, and sync with apps like Slack and GitHub.

  • Dashboards: straightforward rollups give leadership high-level views across multiple boards.

  • Permissions: keep client-facing boards separate yet connected to internal workflows.

Why it’s in the top: Monday.com excels when standardized views are needed across several squads. For example, a support engineering team can track escalations on one board while feeding status updates into a company dashboard, no complex data exports required.

Basecamp, opinionated simplicity for teams that want less ceremony

Basecamp reduces project tracking to the essentials: to-dos, messages, and milestones. Remote teams that prefer minimalism often find Basecamp at the top of their list for simple project tracking software for remote teams.

Basecamp strengths:

  • Low-friction task lists: create, assign, and progress work with minimal complexity.

  • Asynchronous communication: message boards keep conversations directly connected to the work.

  • Client access: easily invite external stakeholders without exposing sensitive information.

  • Hill Charts: a simple, visual metaphor for gauging progress from exploration to execution.

Why it’s in the top: If your remote team is weighed down by unnecessary procedures, Basecamp’s constraints become an advantage. Marketing agencies and creative studios often find it helps projects advance without requiring a project manager’s constant intervention.

ClickUp, one workspace, simplified views for distributed squads

ClickUp aims to bring all work management together in one tool. While it offers advanced features, it can be easily configured to remain lean, earning its place among simple project tracking software for remote teams that want just enough depth.

ClickUp strengths:

  • View flexibility: access board, list, timeline, and workload views all from the same set of data.

  • Custom statuses and fields: tailor workflows to your team’s terminology without overwhelming them with settings.

  • Automations: streamline handoffs and reminders for teams across time zones.

  • Templates for sprints, launches, and OKRs: start fast and refine later.

Why it’s in the top: ClickUp can serve startups with its simplicity while also catering to scale-ups with more complex needs. Keep project boards simple for engineering, while operations employs lists and dashboards, ensuring all teams see only what’s relevant to them.

Notion, flexible building blocks that can still stay simple

Notion is a blank canvas, easy to keep simple or expand as needed. With the right template, many remote teams transform it into an efficient simple project tracking software for remote teams, minus unnecessary complexity.

Notion strengths:

  • Databases with multiple views: seamlessly switch between board, list, and timeline views without duplicating data.

  • Templates for projects and sprints: get started quickly and make adjustments as your process matures.

  • Relations and rollups: link projects to docs and stakeholders with minimal setup.

  • Sharing and permissions: easily publish roadmaps as read-only pages for executives and clients.

Why it’s in the top: When a single source of truth is essential, Notion’s databases help keep work and relevant context together. A remote product trio can manage a two‑month roadmap on a board while directly linking specs and decisions in one workspace.

Linear, opinionated speed for product and engineering

Linear is designed to maximize speed and clarity for product and engineering teams. While it isn’t a general-purpose tool, it ranks highly among simple project tracking software for remote teams focused on development and delivery efficiency.

Linear strengths:

  • Keyboard-first UX: swiftly capture and move issues without excessive clicking.

  • Clean workflows: simple stages from triage to backlog to completion, with no unnecessary statuses.

  • Cycles and roadmaps: just enough structure for planning remote sprints.

  • Integrations with code and design tools: keep context close with GitHub, GitLab, and Figma built in.

Why it’s in the top: Linear’s design promotes a focus on achieving delivery goals, instead of spending time on form filling. For engineering-centric remote teams, it creates a calm, fast surface for efficient daily execution.

Airtable, spreadsheet comfort with relational clarity

Airtable bridges the gap between spreadsheets and databases, making it a popular option for operations-driven teams seeking simple project tracking software for remote teams. Spreadsheet enthusiasts will find its interface familiar yet more powerful.

Airtable strengths:

  • Relational tables: link projects, tasks, and owners without setting up a complicated schema.

  • Different views for different roles: use grid for operations, kanban for delivery, and gallery for stakeholders.

  • Interfaces and apps: build dashboards and forms without needing a dedicated data team.

  • Automations: notify owners and update records automatically based on status changes.

Why it’s in the top: Airtable is ideal for cross-team collaboration where datasets matter, think events, content calendars, or vendor onboarding, while remaining approachable. A remote field marketing team can run regional campaigns and roll up projects globally, all without any spreadsheet merging headaches.

Teamwork, client service tracking that stays readable

For agencies and services teams needing client-friendly visibility, Teamwork’s structure and robust reporting offer a dependable choice among simple project tracking software for remote teams that juggle multiple clients and tracked hours.

Teamwork strengths:

  • Client permissions: give clients the right level of access without revealing internal processes.

  • Templates for repeatable engagements: accelerate onboarding, site builds, or retainer projects.

  • Time tracking and budgets: manage both delivery and finances within a single interface.

  • Portfolio-level reports: gain an overview of client project health without manual data crunching.

Why it’s in the top: Remote agencies, with many simultaneous projects, need clarity over complexity. Teamwork delivers this without requiring excessive setup or training.

Choosing the right fit for your remote workflow

Here’s a simplified model to guide your choice of project management tool. If your team values the lightest touch, Trello or Basecamp are likely to feel comfortable. For structured yet lightweight cross-functional management, look at Asana or Monday.com. If you want one workspace that connects projects, knowledge, and customer context, Routine is worth exploring. For engineering teams, Linear excels; for data-heavy operations, try Airtable; for client-driven work, Teamwork is a solid bet. Each of these options can be the best simple project tracking software for remote teams, the trick is matching your workflow to the tool’s natural strengths.

Consider how your team will visualize timelines, too. Some groups prefer classic charts for big-picture planning, while managing daily work with lighter tools. If that describes you, this guide to using Gantt-style views with lightweight trackers can help you sketch timelines without overcomplicating work. Aim to use multiple views on a single source of data, rather than duplicating information where possible.

Real-world scenarios to test before you commit

  • Async updates: Can a teammate in a different time zone catch up on yesterday’s progress in a couple of minutes?

  • Handoffs: Does work move from scoping to execution to QA without a project manager chasing every task?

  • Stakeholder reporting: Can you create a one-page status update without needing a spreadsheet export?

  • Onboarding: Will a new contractor get up to speed and contribute meaningfully on day one?

If a tool passes these scenarios for your team, it’s likely a strong fit as the best simple project tracking software for remote teams in your context. Try prototyping a sprint or small client project with two potential tools, then compare the ease of use, rather than focusing purely on features.

Examples of lean setups

Marketing launch in Asana: tasks grouped by stream (Messaging, Website, Paid), each with owners and due dates; a timeline view is shared with leadership; a rule automatically moves assets to “Ready for Review” when design tasks are done. Product sprint in Linear: run a two-week cycle with triage managed by a dedicated team; issues are auto-labeled by source; a shared roadmap spans the quarter. Client onboarding in Routine: a project links to a CRM account and a knowledge base page containing requirements; tasks notify customer success automatically when status advances to “UAT.” Each of these configurations demonstrates how a tool can remain simple while keeping everyone informed.

Summary and next step

Success in remote work hinges on clarity. The tools discussed help distributed teams see their work, understand next steps, and report progress without jumping through hoops.

Narrowing your options? Run a one-week pilot in your top two choices and compare how quickly work gets done, not just how many features appear in their menus. If a unified workspace connecting projects, knowledge, and customer context appeals to you, test out Routine alongside another contender like Asana, and see which one your team instinctively prefers to use.

FAQ

What is the primary advantage of using Trello for remote teams?

Trello's visual Kanban system offers intuitive project tracking, making it easy for teams to establish a shared workflow language, which is particularly beneficial for remote teams across different time zones.

How does Asana support cross-functional work management?

Asana provides multiple views like lists, boards, and timelines, and offers features like task ownership, rules, and project templates to efficiently manage and organize cross-team dependencies.

Why might a remote team choose Monday.com over other project management tools?

Monday.com's integration of spreadsheets, boards, and automations is ideal for operations teams, offering straightforward dashboards and permission settings to manage both internal and client-facing workflows.

In what scenarios does Basecamp excel as a project tracking tool?

Basecamp is well-suited for teams that value minimalism, providing only essential tools such as to-do lists and asynchronous communication, which reduce the need for a project manager's constant supervision.

What makes ClickUp a flexible choice for different business sizes?

ClickUp's configuration options allow teams to keep processes simple or more advanced as needed, with customizable workflows and views that can cater to both startups seeking simplicity and scale-ups requiring depth.

How does Routine simplify project and customer management for remote teams?

Routine centralizes projects, documents, and customer information in a single workspace, allowing teams to manage project status and related customer details seamlessly without switching platforms.

What are the strengths of using Notion for project tracking?

Notion provides flexible building blocks and templates, enabling teams to maintain simplicity while linking projects to additional documentation and stakeholders for a comprehensive view of their tasks.

Why is Linear favored by product and engineering teams?

Linear's focus on speed and clarity, with a clean workflow and strong integrations with coding tools, makes it particularly valuable for engineering members aiming for development efficiency.

How does Airtable enhance data-driven project management?

Airtable combines spreadsheet familiarity with database functionality, making it a strong choice for operations teams that require relational clarity and diverse views without complex setups.

What makes Teamwork suitable for client-focused agencies or service teams?

Teamwork's structure enables client visibility with appropriate permissions, while its robust reporting and time-tracking features assist in managing multiple client projects effectively.